Daredevil

Daredevil: Dark Nights #4

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Daredevil: Dark Nights #4Somedays it just doesn’t pay to be a super-hero. Writer/artist David Lapham takes over with a new story involving Daredevil chasing down the 10-inch nuisance known as Buggit who just stole crucial evidence from a case involving Matt Murdock’s latest client. Most of the comic features Daredevil becoming increasingly frustrated with being unable to apprehend the little S.O.B. who, while leading him through a wild goose chase all over New York, continues to put our hero in harms way including dropping him right into the path to the Shocker.

Although I didn’t stick around to see how Lee Weeks‘ first arc of the anthology ended, a new writer/artist and the appearance of the Shocker on the cover (who sadly only appears on a couple of pages) made me pick this one up. Doing double duty, Lapham captures the spirit of the character (and the ridiculous situation he finds himself in) while providing several great panels of Daredevil in action.

After a mostly fun lighthearted affair I was a little sad to see the comic take such a dark turn on the final page. Although I’d recommend this issue, I’m not sure I like where the story is headed. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

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Daredevil #30

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Daredevil #30Matt Murdock‘s life gets even more complicated when former Assistant District Attorney Kristen McDuffie takes Foggy‘s place as his new law partner and Daredevil is approached by an alien seeking sanctuary while fleeing the wrath of the Silver Surfer.

Although the Surfer is a tad too emotional here, which can be explained by the Achian’s powers of persuasion and distorting perception, I enjoyed writer Mark Waid’s take on the character even if the issue falls back on the most basic of comic tropes: a misunderstanding to pit two heroes against each other.

Daredevil gets his chance to fly the Surfer’s board and take down a cosmic bad guy, but in true Murdock fashion the comic ends on a downbeat as Murdock takes the lying alien’s “truth” to heart.

In an age when nearly everything being written is planned in advance to put out in a single arc trade paperback one-shots like this are a dying breed. And that’s too bad, because Waid and artist Chris Samnee prove how good such issues can be. Must-read.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Daredevil #29

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Daredevil #29With his childhood bully shot in front of him in the middle of a courtroom full of witnesses (by the judge no less!) Daredevil leaps into action. However, locked inside the Federal Building unable to tell friend from foe (as the Sons of the Serpent seem to have agents everywhere) the man without fear tries to keep everyone alive and sort out the situation before it escalates even further.

I found last issue’s late twist a little hard to swallow, but writer Mark Waid uses the set-up to put our hero in a situation where he doesn’t know who he can trust as even some of the police, those just trying to do their jobs, become obstacles as well after seeing the vigilante pummeling another cop.

Even if Daredevil gets out of the situation a little too cleanly (you’d think there would be a mountain of red tape to cut through after things died down) Waid delivers a tense issue that also foreshadows Murdock’s new temporary partner. I know I have my guess as to her identity. What’s yours? Worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

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Daredevil #28

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Daredevil #28When Matt Murdock is approached for help by his childhood bully, Daredevil has grave reservations about defending the person who made his childhood a living hell, and is responsible for the nickname “Daredevil,” from charges that he belonged to a terrorist organization. Beginning with Matt visiting Foggy in the hospital, the issue certainly focuses more on Matt than his horned alter-ego.

Although he originally turns down the case, Murdock’s conscience gets the better of him and he finally agrees to prep Nate Hackett to defend himself in court (which turns out to be quite entertaining). The emotions of Matt’s struggles to both sit at Foggy’s bedside and help an old enemy each work well (even if I’m not comfortable with yet another retcon of where Daredevil got his name).

The issue ends in bizarre fashion as the Sons of the Serpent make sure Hackett doesn’t give away any privileged information about their society by having the judge shoot the defendant in the middle of the courtroom. I was thrown off a little by these last few panels, but I trust that Waid knows where he’s going. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Daredevil: Dark Nights #2

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Daredevil: Dark Nights #2The first three-issue arc of the new eight-issue anthology series Daredevil: Dark Nights continues here with Daredevil trying to brave a snowstorm to retrieve a heart from a downed medical chopper with precious cargo: a heart necessary to save the life of a young girl.

Although the problematic amnesia element from the first issue is gone there’s not real reason as to why Daredevil finally has his full memory restored. We’re also forced to read through several pages of the young girl’s father making dangerous deals for his daughter’s only hope with someone dangerous who gives him hope but will no doubt put both Daredevil and the heart in danger but hopefully save his daughter. (It’s dangerous, and the heart’s her only hope, go it?)

That said, Lee Weeks art is once again solid but his writing is only slightly improved over the first issue although it’s still clunky and hamfisted at times (especially involving danger or hope). For fans.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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